Archive for the ‘Brighton Entertainment’ Category

Book a Brighton BnB today because it’s the Brighton Beer Festival -and looking at the info, there’s clearly a festival going on and not just beerheadedness.

Sup it up - Brighton Beer Festival

Four days of fun, set up to entertain and refresh at the same time – as well as beer, there will be cider and real ale, as well as live bands, competitions and stalls.

Starting Thursday 14th and running through till Sunday, the festival is to be found just back from the West Pier.

Keen to keep ladies interested – those who otherwise wouldn’t be interested in such blokeish beer exploits – there’s also plenty of wines, spirits and cocktails to be sampled – most women love a pint, and plenty of blokes like a ‘GnT’ so there’s sure to be something for everyone.

Entertainment sees bands playing all the way through – with the occasional DJ set between changeovers. There’s also a Juice FM Battle of the Bands and it’s all finished of with a set by the Brighton Beach Boys.

Dodgy play on Friday night, other bands include The Grits, and The Blockheads.

And if the weather stays, it’s set to be one very long, and very enjoyable summer weekend; don’t dare spend it in your Brighton BnB!

Visiting Brighton this summer you’ll be keen to keep costs down – there’s the cost of transport, food and entertainment, as well as the price of your bed and breakfast in Brighton.

Free fun in Brighton

Sticking to our reputation of being the best value and most characterful Brighton BnB, we’ve put together a list of things to do in Brighton for the family that are either cheap, or free.

You’d be very surprised just how much you can offer your family, with no need to break the bank.

Here goes:

All Month

Dinosaurs in Churchill Square. Thanks to a partnership with the Natural History Museum, Churchill Square shopping centre is now home to some of the most impressive animated dinos you’ll ever get to see. Price: FREE and not to be missed!

07 July

SOURCE New Music – Upcoming stars of the Brighton music scene and special guest perform at the Brighton Dome. Price: just £4 –

10 July

Johnny Boy – Young people from local education groups take the legend of Don Giovanni and give it a modern twist. Price: £6/£3 at the Brighton Dome

13 – 17 July

Young at Art 2011- Perfect for families harbouring a young artist. An exhibition that helps young people get their visions up on the walls and presented in a professional exhibition. Price: FREE

14 July

Antigone – for less than a fiver you get to see the award winning West Sussex Country Youth Theatre present its latest play, Spring Awakening, again at the Brighton Dome.

06/24 July

North Laine Summer Walks – Don’t spend the weekend in Brighton walking around aimlessly, when you can pick up a great history lesson as you wander. Price: from £3, leaves from outside the Brighton Museum

23 July

Young Artists’ Day – Drop-in events run by local talent that will inspire the junior Picassos and would-be Wagners. Price: FREE – Brighton Museum

24 July

Love it Local Summer Fair
Local arts, crafts, hippie heaven and fun for the family at the Hanover community centre. Price: Yep, it’s FREE!

And there are the downs, and Hove lawns, and the piers (well, one pier) and all the Brighton parks to explore. Check out more free stuff and free events

It just goes to show, you don’t need loadsa money when booking a Bed and Breakfast in Brighton, just a little local knowledge and a splash of imagination – oh, and don’t forget the beach: it’s cheaper than chips, it’s free!

With the weather so good, it’s likely that you’re gonna want to dip your feet in the water when visiting Brighton. Well, this weekend you’ll be able to do a lot more than that: it’s the Paddle Round the Pier Festival.

A real regular on the Brighton party scene, this beach inspired charity fest has all sorts of activities for the family – and plenty for the hardcore surf dude and dudette.

Staying out of the water for a while, there are stalls all over the Hove lawns; concerts and live tunes; surfing movies; BMX and skating – of course; and plenty of stuff just for kids.

Our favourites from last year were the VW Campers on show: amazing conversions of the coolest transporters ever built!

Onto the water and there’s the Pier2Pier race, Stand Up Paddleboarding races (SUP), a swim around the pier, dinghy sailing, surf lifesaving contests and plenty of ways you can get involved. There’s an appearance from the S.A.S (not the balaclava’d, gun-wielding sort) a very special force behind environmental campaigns close to all of us who enjoy the sea – families visiting Brighton beach can get some great sea and beach safety advice from the RNLI.

It’s a very cool weekend. And let’s face it, if you’re visiting Brighton with a family, you’re probably here for fun. So get yourselves to the seafront and head west. Head to Hove and find the sun and fun you’re looking for. And if the surf’s not up, there’s a guaranteed party till the sun goes down!

Usually the only music you here in a Brighton BnB drifts out from a knackered radio in reception. And you can guarantee it’s tuned to Bland 103 FM.

Aidy, on tour

Well, as the only BnB in Brighton with a real blog – rather than a ‘what’s on’ list – The Ambassador is bringing some outstanding live music to the party.

Aidy is playing a one-off gig on Saturday 9th July at 8 p.m. – this is the man who wrote a song every week for a year! The singer/ songwriter’s first album drew an insightful review from Steve Lamacq, who described it as having a “cinematic quality that pervades the haunting weirdness”.

It’s going to be intimate, and a rare chance to catch him with his three piece – picked up a recording contract this year, so watch out.

Tickets are £free, yes free – that’s just the way he rolls -so spread the word: the best Brighton BnB is also putting on live music. Come on down!

There are not many people who’d ever say that when visiting Brighton they didn’t have a ‘cultural’ experience. ‘Culture’ is hard to define when we are talking about Brighton – it’s more a hybrid soup of styles and superficialities – and when it comes to describing other countries’ cultures, it’s often best to let them do the talking.

Brighton Japan Festival

Across Brighton this week there’s a celebration of Japanese culture – and it’s not all sushi and stereotypes. Brighton Japan Festival features both the contemporary and the traditional. So while you’ll get taiko drumming, you’ll also be baffled by poster art of the 1960’s – and Nintendo gamers will get an all-nighter.

It’s a treat for Anime fans, as the week ends with the Asahi Anime Festival, where the oddest fashions to ever grace even Brighton streets will take centre stage.

Expect whisky tasting, cult movie watching at the Duke of York’s and tasty, tasty Japanese treats served up all week.

Visiting Brighton and want to check out what’s happening? Pop along to Moshi Moshi as it’s the centrepiece of it all.

Most weekends in Brighton, for the party crowd at least, are spent in deep indulgence. Well, this month it’s time for the stars to come to town. And not just stars of the DJ booth or the big screen, we’ve got some stars of their own bedroom visiting Brighton. Yes, it’s time for Britain’s Got Talent to hit Brighton!

Weekends in Brighton: always time to party!

After the bull****ers and bedroom divas were weaned out, the show kept the best acts to take on tour, and they are here, on 22 June.

Four days later, seasoned pro Michael Ball will be bringing his new show to the Brighton Centre and showing them how it’s really done.

‘Girls just want to have fun’ could well be the motto for girls spending their party weekends in Brighton, and for one girl, Cyndi Lauper, it’s exactly what she’ll be doing on 28 June. The pop icon and 80’s fashion find will be knocking out the tunes in the Brighton Dome.

Concord2 is also hosting some stars of old and new. Ratpack and Ellis Dee get the old skool ravers jumping on 18 June, while Adam Ant will stand and deliver tunes from his greatest hits tour.

It’s not just the weekends in Brighton that are star-studded, look at our listings to see more of what’s on in Brightonday-to-day.

UK has really clear laws about public nudity and us Brits have a bit of a reputation as prudes. Well, this weekend anyone visiting Brighton for the first time will get a very different view. That’s because it’s not just in the Brighton bed and breakfasts where the action is happening…

It’s on the streets and it’s on two wheels. And if you want to see bums, bushes and bits of all shapes and sizes you will have come to the right town. Ladies and gentlemen – and very embarrassed old ladies – it’s the Brighton Naked Bike Ride!

Last year, a marvellous 800 people bared all and pedaled around the streets of this oddball town. They had a ball, all to demonstrate the vulnerability of cyclists – although, if you look closely – if you must – you’ll probably notice that many are just happy to get their kit off!

If all this skin is too much, get yourself to the beach; but not to Black Rock Beach, because as Brighton’s naked beach it’s in a constant state of undress.

The spokesperson for the ride wasn’t available for a comment, but the only real complaint we’d expect to hear is likely to be from the tandem rider – the one at the rear!

If you’re here for a family weekend, don’t worry or shut yourselves into your Brighton bed and breakfast, just look at our Brighton local events pages – you’ll see there’s a lot happening for the clothed community too!

Brighton has always been a fashionable place. Hotels in Brighton have long hosted designers, stylists and photographers keen to shoot here. And we know the shopping in Brighton out of this world!

So, when it comes to Brighton Fashion Week, it’s no surprise that we’ve got a fabulous fashion designer and pattern cutter, Masato, staying with us in our Brighton bed and breakfast.

What’s in your mix for Brighton Fashion Week?

Brighton is like my home town as my first place to live in UK. It’s a feeling that Brighton gets people’s heart to visit or live. Its my pleasure to come home and show my collection in Brighton.

How do you describe your style?

I want them to be real and comfortable. It would be nice if a girl in my clothes is in the jazz bar somewhere for a night out.

This summer, what’s hot and what’s not for looking cool on Brighton beach?

Doing whatever you want to do on the beach with your friends. Smiling is much better than looking hot.

Seen anything special in the madcap mix of styles of Brighton?

Your one summer styling tip for guys and one for girls:

For guys including me, we must get cool t-shirts. For girls, let’s wear skirts more.

Why should people come from London to go shopping in Brighton?

Brighton has always been a fashionable place. Hotels in Brighton have long hosted designers, stylists and photographers keen to shoot here. And we know the shopping in Brighton out of this world!

Masato soon to be showing in Brighton

So, when it comes to Brighton Fashion Week, it’s no surprise that we’ve got a fabulous fashion designer and pattern cutter, Masato, staying with us in our Brighton bed and breakfast.

Busy preparing for the show, we caught up with him:

What’s in your mix for Brighton Fashion Week?

Brighton is like my home town as its my first place to live in UK. It’s a feeling that Brighton gets in people’s heart to visit or live. It’s my pleasure to come home and show my collection in Brighton.

How do you describe your style?

I want them to be real and comfortable. It would be nice if a girl in my clothes is in the jazz bar, somewhere for a night out.

This summer, what’s hot and what’s not for looking cool on Brighton beach?

Doing whatever you want to do on the beach with your friends – Smiling is much better than looking hot!

Your one summer styling tip for guys and one for girls:

For guys including me, we must get cool t-shirts. For girls, let’s wear skirts more.

Seen anything special in the madcap mix of styles of Brighton?

Definitely the mapcap Jess Eaton! (she’s showing again this year)

Why should people come from London to go shopping in Brighton?

Shopping is not only about buying something. Take your friends to Brighton for shopping and have a fun. I promise that it will be one of your favourite days-out!

Fantasy house moves over and it’s the work that soon teases your attention, in our pick of the open houses. With some skill, photographer Ted Davis and his partner have transformed their living room into an exhibition space worthy of a contemporary gallery.

Pride of place in the typically expansive bay window is a sculpture by Steve Yeates, made from ’socially intrinsic recycled materials’ – see ‘broken glass’.

Image: Ted Davis

Ted’s detailed images of floral organics (flowers) are boldly set, and show his dedication to this theme is returning some stunning images.

By pooling the talents of six other artists: Richard P.Cook, oil and water colours; Liz Hancock, silver and gold jewellery based on organic forms; Annie Mendelow, oil and pastel paintings: Tim Dolby, richly textured mixed media; and Catherine Beckett, silver and gold jewellery, they’ve brought something unique to the room.

And it’s something Ted hopes to continue, with more regular events and collective exhibitions planned.

The only disappointment in all this were the cakes: there wasn’t any – but who’d eat cakes in a gallery!

Hotels in Brighton have been packed out every weekend with families enjoying weekends in Brighton and the hours of summer sun. Well, now it’s the turn of the partygoers as music festival season has begun!

As summer festivals go, it still seems a little early for a full-blown music festival – not that the weather conditions or the time of year ever mattered in Brighton, which has been enjoying a pre-summer, summer.

And to kick things off, we’ve ‘The Great Escape’ this weekend (12-14 May). Billed as Europe’s leading festival for new music it promises a wild collection of tunesters (300+) playing at 30 venues across the city.

And it’s more than just a music festival; it’s a conference during which you can get to hear the thoughts and views of the leading movers and shakers from within the industry.

Names we spotted performing are Beardyman, DJ Shadow and John Cooper Clarke – look at the Great Escape gigs list for more details. And speaking at the conference, you’ll hear Wired Magazine’s Duncan Geere talking about the future of digital music and DJ Shadow reviewing his success in the biz.

So, from Thurs to Sunday expect to see plenty of music industry types sauntering in and out of hotels in Brighton. ‘Then after the show it’s the after party and after the party it’s the hotel lobby’ – sorry, could help it.

It’s going to be another weekend to remember, but remember to pack your sun cream and maybe even your swim shorts because if current form is anything to go by, the music festival and the regular beachfront party will merge into one. Bring it on!